Police Chief: Property crimes down, vehicle crashes up

During a June 3 chat session, Tahlequah Police Chief Nate King updated the public on May's call numbers, newly released data from the radar trailer, and training courses.

Officers logged 3,992 calls for service; close to 1,200 building checks; 900 traffic stops; 300 pedestrian stops; and higher than normal vehicle crashes for the month of May.

"For those that have noticed, we've had the speed trailer in different locations. It's in its third location now, we've got it on West Fourth Street. I have not collected the data from that, the first two were Ballentine Road and then Stick Ross Mountain Road," King said.

King added that data from Stick Ross Mountain Road suggested more police enforcement while Ballentine Road data did not.

"Had almost an 80 percent compliance rate and speed on Ballentine Road where we had it so good job, Tahlequah on that," he said.

Officer David Trammell will be receiving a life-saving commendation award during Monday's Tahlequah City Council meeting. Trammell was dispatched to a man who was reportedly threatening self-harm with a broken bottle.

"Officer Trammell distinguished himself with exceptional tactics and great logic, probably more so than just the normal demands of duty to preserve life and so we're going to honor him tonight at the city council meeting for that," King said.

Several training courses are taking place at the police department; continuing education with firearms; an intoxilyzer course; and a monthly supervisor meeting. King said they have performance evaluations this month.

"Our annual shift bid comes up in two weeks so some officers may move from days to nights, or nights to days, or weekends off, weekdays off, whatever it is but officers bid that by seniority once a year to select their shifts," King said.